I'd like to ask something if you know... right now my computer is partitioned like this: the first 3 partitions are NTFS (so they can run Windows), and the next 3-4 partitions are put under an EXTENDED partition that runs Linux. If I use Gparted to format the Windows partition - therefore turning that NTFS partition to a Ext4 one - does this mess the partitions of my hard disk up and renders my current Linux installation unusable??

In other words, I'm thinking of formatting the Windows partition from NTFS to Ext4, and then move this newly formatted partition to the end of the HOME partition of Linux, but I'm not sure if this is possible since the Windows partition is sda2 while the Linux partition is sda7. So, there's 4 other partitions between these 2 partitions that I wanna merge, and I'm not sure if this is possible without messing up my entire system and not be able to even log into Linux anymore after I do this. Can you please tell me if this is possible?

Probably. It's a bit of a risky operation for a newcomer, and I wouldn't bet the farm on it going right at this time; that said, this should in principle be possible.
I would

make very sure I have a backup of the entire home partition, since it would need to be moved

do the whole operation from a live medium, not the installed version of Mint. You can't make changes to a partition that's being used.

If your issue is solved, kindly indicate that by editing the first post in the topic, and adding [SOLVED] to the title. Thanks!

you may need to wait for someone more knowledgeable then myself but to the best of my knowledge, i do not believe that windows ntfs is in any way compatable with ext4 (" I'm thinking of formatting the Windows partition from NTFS to Ext4")

you may need to wait for someone more knowledgeable then myself but to the best of my knowledge, i do not believe that windows ntfs is in any way compatable with ext4 (" I'm thinking of formatting the Windows partition from NTFS to Ext4")

You mean to tell me that I am stuck forever with 500 GB of my 1 TB HDD as NTFS partitions??? Nah, I refuse to believe that. If that is true, however.... crap!

if your intention is to just re-aquire the ntfs and not retain anything in it pertaining to windows OS, your probably ok to format it for use with linux via ext4,...i may have misunderstood your intention with it.

if your intention is to just re-aquire the ntfs and not retain anything in it pertaining to windows OS, your probably ok to format it for use with linux via ext4,...i may have misunderstood your intention with it.

Yep, that's what I was thinking about: to wipe out the entire partition so that I can put Linux on it. I think that's possible

if your intention is to just re-aquire the ntfs and not retain anything in it pertaining to windows OS, your probably ok to format it for use with linux via ext4,...i may have misunderstood your intention with it.

Yep, that's what I was thinking about: to wipe out the entire partition so that I can put Linux on it. I think that's possible

It's only when you move home you need to be careful.Are you planning to?

If I have helped you solve a problem, please add [SOLVED] to your first post title, it helps other users looking for help, and keeps the forum clean.
Regards,
Deepak

if your intention is to just re-aquire the ntfs and not retain anything in it pertaining to windows OS, your probably ok to format it for use with linux via ext4,...i may have misunderstood your intention with it.

Yep, that's what I was thinking about: to wipe out the entire partition so that I can put Linux on it. I think that's possible

It's only when you move home you need to be careful.Are you planning to?

Yes. Right now, my partitions are...

- sda1: bootable (NTFS), mounted at Windows
- sda2: windows (NTFS), not mounted (at least that's what it says, but it's Windows on this partition, and this is the one I want to wipe out);
- sda3: 530 GB (NTFS), not mounted (this is my D:/ drive under WIndows and it's the only partition I need NOT touch, cause it contains all the stuff I need);
- sda4: EXTENDED partition (contains ALL Linux Mint 19 partitions);

Now, under this extended partition there are 4 other partitions, as follows...

Now, I am not sure yet that I will re-install Linux, but if I do, I will DEFINITELY do a clean install (format the hell out of everything and then install by the manual, because I never deal with compromises and temporary solutions. For me, either everything works as intended or it doesn't work at all. Which means that, YES, I intend to mess with the HOME partition, as well)

I don't think it's dangerous though, because right now as I type this I am also copying all of the stuff I want to the 530 GB partition which - like I said - contains all of my critical stuff, so I never intend to touch that partition until I get the hold of an external HDD so I can transfer its contents there. But the thing that bothers me is that this critical partition is exactly in the freaking middle of the HDD, and it irks me LOL

Not even a tenner to buy a USB stick? Or a friend you can borrow one or the other from? That's rough. In that case I would leave well enough alone for now. But I'm afraid this advice will fall on dear ears...

If your issue is solved, kindly indicate that by editing the first post in the topic, and adding [SOLVED] to the title. Thanks!

Not even a tenner to buy a USB stick? Or a friend you can borrow one or the other from? That's rough. In that case I would leave well enough alone for now. But I'm afraid this advice will fall on dear ears...

Yeah, all of my friends have left the country many years ago, I'm the loser of the pack if you will: no friends, no money, no ANYTHING. At least I've got Linux to keep me occupied LOL

And yes, I'm not gonna listen to your advice in this case because... um.... because imperfection irks me, and I gotta solve this Linux problem somehow, especially since, like I've said, there's only Twilight Zone level stuff going on with my computer. The Opera issue has been solved thanks to that nice dude, but now my panel won't stay displayed, no matter which option I choose for it (never, intelligently, always). Funny stuff working on my computer, I'm telling you. If you're not keeping a good sense of humor you smash the screen to the first wall you see

Last edited by Moem on Sun Sep 09, 2018 4:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Reason:Crude word removed. This is a family friendly forum.

HA I have figured out why the panel kept disappearing... it's because of a setting called "Opacity > Leave" that I've set from 100 to 0 and it was making the panel transparent all the time, except for when I was hovering my mouse over it. Dang!